How to boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode

To boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode, open the Start menu, click Power, hold “Shift,” and click “Restart.” Then click on Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart. Select the “4” or “Safe Mode” option or press “F4.”
Another way to access Safe Mode is to start in WinRE from the BIOS and then open Advanced Startup > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart. Select the “4” or “Safe Mode” option or press “F4.”
You can also start Windows 11 in Safe Mode from the Settings app, Command Prompt, and MSConfig.

On Windows 11, Safe Mode starts with only the essential drivers and services needed to run the operating system, making it useful for troubleshooting problems caused by drivers, apps, updates, and other system changes.

The quickest way to boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode is to hold the “Shift” key while selecting “Restart” from the Power menu in the Start menu. From the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart, then press “F4” to start in Safe Mode.

If Windows 11 won’t start normally, you can also force the computer into the Windows Recovery Environment and access Safe Mode from there.

In this guide, I’ll show you the easiest ways to start Windows 11 in Safe Mode, including what to do when the computer won’t boot.

Start Windows 11 in Safe Mode

On Windows 11, you can boot a device into the Safe Mode environment in at least seven ways from inside and outside the desktop experience, whether you have a laptop or desktop computer from HP, Dell, Lenovo, or another brand, and here’s how:

Quick method to enter Safe Mode
1. Boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode from the Start menu
2. Boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode from Settings (recovery)
3. Boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode from Sign-in screen
4. Boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode using Command Prompt (F8 method)
5. Boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode using MSConfig (System Configuration)
6. Boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode when PC won’t boot (power on)
7. Boot Windows 11 from USB installation media
Does F8 still work for Safe Mode on Windows 11?
How to know you’re in Safe Mode
What can you do in Safe Mode?
Safe Mode vs. a clean boot
Does Safe Mode delete your files?
How to exit Safe Mode on Windows 11
What to do if Safe Mode doesn’t solve the problem
FAQs about entering Windows 11 in Safe Mode

Quick method to enter Safe Mode

The easiest way to enter Safe Mode is through WinRE. You can access it from the Start menu, Settings, or the sign-in screen.

To start Windows 11 in Safe Mode, open “Start,” click the “Power” button, press and hold the “Shift” key, and click “Restart.”

Then select the Troubleshoot option, click on “Advanced options,” select the “Startup Settings” option, click the “Restart” button, and press “4” or “F4” to start Windows 11 in Safe Mode.

If you need internet access while troubleshooting, press “5” or “F5” instead to use Safe Mode with Networking.

Which Safe Mode option should you choose?

Windows 11 provides several startup options from the Startup Settings screen.

Safe Mode (F4): Starts the operating system with the basic drivers and services. I recommend starting with this option for most troubleshooting.
Safe Mode with Networking (F5): Adds network drivers so you can access the internet or network resources.
Safe Mode with Command Prompt (F6): Starts Windows 11 with Command Prompt instead of the normal Windows desktop.

If you’re troubleshooting a driver, application, startup problem, or system crash, start with Safe Mode (F4). Use Safe Mode with Networking only when you specifically need network access.

1. Boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode from the Start menu

To boot in Safe Mode on Windows 11 from the Start menu, use these steps:

Open Start.
Click the Power menu.
Press and hold the “Shift” key and then click the Restart button.
Click the Troubleshoot option.
Click on Advanced options.
Click the Startup Settings option.
Click the Restart button.
Select “4” or press the “F4” key to boot the computer in the Safe Mode environment.

Once you complete the steps, the device will start in the specified mode, allowing you to troubleshoot and fix virtually any issue on Windows 11.

2. Boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode from Settings (Recovery)

To access Safe Mode from the Settings app on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on System.
Click on Recovery.
Click the Restart now button under the “Advanced startup” section.
Click the Restart now button again on Windows 11.
Click the Troubleshoot option.
Click the Advanced options button.
Click the Startup Settings option.
Click the Restart button.
Select “4” or press the “F4” key to boot the computer in the Safe Mode environment.

After completing the steps, the device will enter the minimal mode environment, where you can troubleshoot and resolve system problems more efficiently.

Microsoft identifies Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup as one of the standard ways to enter the Windows Recovery Environment.

3. Boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode from the Sign-in screen

You don’t have to sign in to Windows to access Safe Mode. To enter Safe Mode from the Sign-in screen, use these steps:

Click the Power button in the bottom right.
Press and hold the “Shift” key and then click the Restart button.
Click the Troubleshoot option.
Click on Advanced options.
Click the Startup Settings option.
Click the Restart button.
Select “4” or press the “F4” key to boot the computer in the Safe Mode environment.

Once you complete the steps, the computer will boot into Safe Mode.

4. Boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode when the PC won’t boot (power on)

If Windows 11 won’t boot normally, you can force the system into the Windows Recovery Environment.

This method is useful if the computer is stuck during startup, repeatedly crashes, displays a blank screen, or encounters a serious startup problem.

To enter Safe Mode from power-on, or after the Blue Screen of Death or no display, use these steps:

Press the power button.
Immediately after the Power-On Self-Test (POST) and you see the blue Windows logo, press the power button again to shut down.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 twice. After Windows detects repeated startup failures, it should enter Automatic Repair and display the Windows Recovery Environment.
Select your Windows 11 account.
Confirm the account password.
Click the Continue button.
Click the Advanced Startup button to continue.
Click the Troubleshoot option.
Click the Advanced options button.
Click the Startup Settings option.
Click the Restart button.
Select “4” or press the “F4” key to boot the computer in the Safe Mode environment.

After you complete the steps, the computer will boot into Safe Mode to troubleshoot and resolve problems on Windows 11.

Remember that using “F8” or “Shift + F8” no longer works to start Windows 11 in minimal mode from the BIOS during boot because firmware and software technologies have evolved. Now, devices use UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) instead of BIOS (Basic Input/Output System).

However, you can still use the old methods, but only to access the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), where you can choose to boot into Safe Mode.

5. Boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode using MSConfig (System Configuration)

You can use the System Configuration utility, also known as msconfig, to configure Windows 11 to start in Safe Mode.

I recommend using this method only when you specifically need the operating system to continue starting in Safe Mode after every restart. Otherwise, the Startup Settings method is easier because it doesn’t require changing the normal boot configuration.

To start Windows 11 in Safe Mode from System Configuration (msconfig), use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for msconfig and click on System Configuration to open the app.
Click the Boot tab.
Under the “Boot options” section, check the Safe boot option.
Choose the Minimal option to start Windows 11 in Safe Mode. Or you can select the Network option to boot Windows 11 with networking support.
Click the Apply button.
Click the OK button.
Restart the computer.

The only caveat is that Windows 11 will boot into minimal mode to troubleshoot problems until you revert the changes.

Stop Windows 11 from always starting in Safe Mode

After you’ve finished troubleshooting, follow these steps:

Open System Configuration.
Click the Boot tab.
Clear the Safe boot option.
Click Apply.
Click OK.
Restart the computer.

System Configuration is a built-in Windows 11 utility designed to troubleshoot startup and boot problems. Microsoft also cautions that you should use it carefully because it can change important startup settings.

6. Boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode using Command Prompt (F8 method)

You can also configure Windows 11 to start in Safe Mode using the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) tools.

To boot Windows 11 into Safe Mode from the Command Prompt (F8 key method), use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

Type the following command and press Enter:

Bcdedit /set {bootmgr} displaybootmenu yes

Windows 11 bcdedit Safe Mode

Restart the computer.
In the “Windows Boot Manager” menu, press the “F8” key to access the Startup Settings menu options.
Select “4” or press the “F4” key to boot the computer in the Safe Mode environment.

Once you complete the steps, Windows 11 will start in Safe Mode with the specified option. If you select the “Networking” option, you can access Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity.

You can always exit the basic boot level using the same instructions, but in step 3, make sure to use the Bcdedit /set {bootmgr} displaybootmenu no command.

If you’re troubleshooting from Windows Recovery Environment rather than the normal desktop, be careful when using bcdedit because the boot entry identifier can differ depending on the environment.

7. Boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode from USB installation media

If you can’t access the normal recovery options, you can use Windows 11 installation media to enter WinRE.

The instructions for starting the computer with installation media to access the Safe Mode environment will be slightly different depending on the operating system version.

Windows 11 26H2, 25H2, or 24H2

To get into Safe Mode from Windows 11 USB media from version 24H2, 25H2, 26H2, and later releases, use these steps:

Start the PC with the Windows 11 USB flash drive.
Press any key to continue.
Click the Next button.
Click the Next button again.
Choose the “Repair my PC” option.
Click the Next button.
Choose the correct keyboard layout to continue.
Click on Troubleshoot.
Click the Command Prompt option.
Type the following command to start the computer in Safe Mode and press Enter:
```
bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal
```
Close the Command Prompt with the “X” button on the top-right.
Click Continue.

Once you complete the steps, the computer will start with the minimum set of services and drivers, allowing you to troubleshoot and resolve problems.

Windows 11 23H2 and older

To access Safe Mode from Windows 11 USB media from version 23H2 and older releases, use these steps:

Start the PC with the Windows 11 USB flash drive.
Press any key to continue.
Click the Next button.
Click the “Repair your computer” option from the bottom left.
Click the Command Prompt option.
Type the following command to start the computer in Safe Mode and press Enter:
```
bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal
```
Close the Command Prompt with the “X” button on the top-right.
Click on Continue.

After you complete the steps, the device will start in Safe Mode, allowing you to troubleshoot and resolve issues on Windows 11.

When using the “bcedit” command, the computer will always start in Safe Mode. You can exit the mode by opening Command Prompt (admin) while in the minimal environment and running the bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot command.

Does F8 still work for Safe Mode on Windows 11?

No. On modern computers running Windows 11, pressing “F8” during startup does not normally open Safe Mode.

The traditional F8 startup behavior was replaced by faster boot processes and modern UEFI-based systems.

However, Windows 11 still provides the Startup Settings screen through the Windows Recovery Environment, which is the recommended way to access Safe Mode.

You can also configure the boot manager to display a legacy boot menu, but I don’t recommend changing the boot configuration simply to restore the F8 behavior. For most users, “Shift + Restart” or the Recovery options are easier and safer.

How to know you’re in Safe Mode

Windows 11 looks different when it starts in Safe Mode.

You may notice that “Safe Mode” appears in the corners of the screen. The desktop may use a basic background, the display resolution may be lower than normal, some features and apps may not work, and only essential drivers and services are loaded.

These limitations are intentional. Safe Mode provides a simpler Windows 11 environment so you can isolate problems that don’t occur during a normal startup.

What can you do in Safe Mode?

Safe Mode is most useful when something prevents Windows from working correctly during a normal startup.

For example, you can use it to:

Remove a recently installed driver.
Roll back a problematic driver.
Uninstall apps that cause crashes.
Troubleshoot a Blue Screen of Death.
Investigate startup problems.
Remove problematic startup software.
Troubleshoot display problems.
Run security scans, such as antivirus.
Determine whether a third-party app is causing a problem.

If a problem disappears in Safe Mode, that’s a useful clue. Something that doesn’t load during a normal startup may be contributing to the problem.

Safe Mode vs. a clean boot

Safe Mode and a clean boot are not the same thing.

Safe Mode starts Windows 11 with a minimal set of drivers and services.

A clean boot starts the operating system normally but prevents most third-party startup programs and services from loading, making it useful for isolating software conflicts.

If Windows 11 starts normally but a particular application, game, or background program is causing problems, a clean boot may be a better troubleshooting step than Safe Mode.

Does Safe Mode delete your files?

No. Starting Windows 11 in Safe Mode does not delete your personal files.

Safe Mode simply starts the operating system with a limited set of drivers and services. However, some troubleshooting actions you perform while in Safe Mode can modify the system. For example, uninstalling an application, removing a driver, or changing system settings can affect your computer.

How to exit Safe Mode on Windows 11

If you entered Safe Mode using “Shift + Restart,” Settings, or the Windows Recovery Environment, simply restart the computer normally.

If Windows 11 keeps starting in Safe Mode, you may have enabled the Safe boot option in MSConfig or configured Safe Mode through the BCD.

In that case, undo the change before restarting.

For System Configuration (MSConfig), open System Configuration, click the “Boot” tab, clear “Safe boot,” click “Apply,” click “OK,” and then restart the computer.

If you used the bcdedit command, open Command Prompt (admin) and run the bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot command, and restart the device.

What to do if Safe Mode doesn’t solve the problem

Safe Mode is a diagnostic tool, not a repair method on its own.

If the problem continues, the next step depends on what is wrong with the computer.

For example:

If Windows won’t start, try Startup Repair.
If the problem began after a recent change, consider System Restore.
If a Windows Update caused the problem, use Uninstall Updates.
If Windows is severely damaged, use another recovery option or installation media.

WinRE includes several tools to diagnose and repair startup problems, including Startup Repair, System Restore, Command Prompt, Uninstall Updates, and Startup Settings.

FAQs about entering Windows 11 in Safe Mode

Here’s a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers about booting a PC running Windows 11 into Safe Mode.

What is Safe Mode in Windows 11?

Safe Mode in Windows 11 is a diagnostic startup mode that loads only essential drivers and basic system services. It disables most third-party apps and advanced features so you can troubleshoot startup errors, driver conflicts, malware infections, and system crashes without interference from unnecessary software.

How do I know if I’m in Safe Mode on Windows 11?

You’re in Safe Mode when the desktop background is black, the words “Safe Mode” appear in all four corners of the screen, and the display runs at a lower resolution. Many apps won’t open, and some features are limited. These visual changes confirm that the system is loaded in diagnostic mode.

What’s the difference between Safe Mode and Safe Mode with Networking in Windows 11?

Safe Mode loads only essential drivers, while Safe Mode with Networking also enables internet and network drivers. Choose the Networking option if you need to download updates, access online troubleshooting tools, or scan for malware. Otherwise, standard Safe Mode is sufficient for basic diagnostics.

Does F8 still work to start Safe Mode in Windows 11?

No, the F8 key no longer directly launches Safe Mode during startup on most modern devices. Windows 11 uses UEFI firmware, which loads too quickly for the traditional F8 interrupt. However, you can enable a legacy boot menu using Command Prompt to regain limited F8 functionality.

How do I start Windows 11 in Safe Mode from the Start menu?

To start Windows 11 in Safe Mode from the Start menu, open Start, click Power, hold the Shift key, and select Restart. Then go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart, and press 4 or F4. The system will reboot into Safe Mode.

How do I boot Windows 11 into Safe Mode when it won’t start?

To access Safe Mode when Windows 11 won’t boot, power on the device and interrupt startup twice by forcing a shutdown when the logo appears. On the third restart, Windows enters WinRE. From there, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart and choose Safe Mode.

How do I exit Safe Mode in Windows 11?

To exit Safe Mode, restart the computer normally if you used the “Shift + Restart” method. If you enabled Safe Mode through MSConfig or Command Prompt, open the same tool and disable the Safe boot setting or remove the safeboot command, then restart the device.

Why is Safe Mode not working on Windows 11?

Safe Mode may fail to load if system files are corrupted, the boot configuration is damaged, or BitLocker recovery is triggered. In some cases, fast startup or firmware settings interfere with recovery access. Running sfc /scannow, rebuilding BCD, or accessing Safe Mode from USB recovery media typically resolves the issue.

Can I start Windows 11 in Safe Mode without a keyboard?

Yes, you can enter Safe Mode without using a keyboard by accessing Advanced Startup through Settings > System > Recovery > Restart now. From there, you can navigate using touch or a mouse. If Windows won’t start, forced shutdowns will trigger WinRE automatically without keyboard input.

Will Safe Mode delete my files in Windows 11?

No, Safe Mode does not delete files or personal data. It only loads the operating system with a minimal set of drivers and services for troubleshooting. However, if you perform additional repair actions such as Reset this PC, those processes may affect files depending on the option selected.

Update February 25, 2025: These instructions have been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect new changes.

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